immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Mietwohnungen

  • New residential neighbourhood brings dynamism to Spreitenbach

    New residential neighbourhood brings dynamism to Spreitenbach

    The Tivoli Garten neighbourhood is revitalising the municipality of Spreitenbach, according to a press release. People have been able to move in there since mid-July and by mid-September more than 500 residents had already taken advantage of this, according to the municipality, citing figures from the residents’ services.

    The largest group are the 226 people (45 per cent) who have moved to Tivoli Garten from the canton of Zurich. This is followed by 121 people (24 per cent) from the canton of Aargau, 89 people (18 per cent) who have moved within Spreitenbach, 49 people (10 per cent) from other cantons and 22 people (4 per cent) who have moved to Tivoli Garten from abroad.

    Tivoli Garten offers a total of 445 rental flats (1.5 to 5.5 rooms) and small commercial spaces on an area of 15,000 square metres. A communal garden with a playground serves as a meeting place for the residents.

  • From shopping centre to property platform

    From shopping centre to property platform

    Shoppi Tivoli Management AG has changed its name to Tivoli Real Estate Management AG. According to the company, the name change reflects a strategic expansion of its field of activity. In addition to managing the shopping centre in Spreitenbach, the company intends to manage other commercial and residential properties in the Limmat Valley.

    The first project under the new company name is the management of the Tivoli Garten residential park. According to the company, 445 rental flats have been created in the “new lively and colourful district in the heart of the Limmat Valley” with more shopping facilities in the adjacent Shoppi Tivoli as well as extended sports and leisure facilities. The advantages also include the connection to the city centre and short distances to the countryside.

    According to its own information, Shoppi T ivoli is the largest shopping centre in Switzerland in terms of floor space. “With Tivoli Real Estate Management AG, we are retaining our identity and origins in the name, while at the same time making it clear that we are broadening our positioning in order to continue to be there for customers and partners in a reliable, competent and future-oriented manner,” reads a press release.

    Tenants and suppliers will continue to have the same contact persons, and contracts and processes will remain the same. The offices will also remain at Shopping Centre 9 in Spreitenbach.

  • Lift refurbishment with a focus on comfort and safety

    Lift refurbishment with a focus on comfort and safety

    KONE has replaced the outdated lifts of a competitor in the Im Tiergarten neighbourhood of Zurich for 466 occupied rental flats. Within 18 months, the lift manufacturer from Brüttisellen installed a total of 46 of its MonoSpace 500DX lifts in one of Zurich’s largest residential complexes.

    According to a company statement, this model adapts flexibly and with millimetre precision to the existing shaft. The payload of most of the passenger lifts has been increased from 320 to 480 kilograms. The new cabins are also significantly larger. According to KONE, they are monitored around the clock via the company’s digital asset management system and serviced proactively. This should lead to around 30 per cent fewer breakdowns.

    The owners had decided to forego vacancy notices and to carry out further refurbishment measures while the building was occupied. According to KONE, it was able to adhere to the tight schedule thanks to a special logistics concept with overnight delivery and close coordination with the owners and residents.

    The successful complete replacement in the Im Tiergarten development is one of KONE’s largest lift modernisation projects in Europe to date. According to Christian Herbst, KONES Director of Modernisation for Germany, Austria and Switzerland, “it shows that we are well positioned to meet an increasingly important demand in the market: the efficient modernisation of even a large number of installations, in close coordination with partners and under difficult conditions such as renovating while the building is occupied”.

  • Affordable living in Zug

    Affordable living in Zug

    The canton of Zug and the city of Zug suffer even more than other cantons and cities from a lack of living space. The canton of Zug has the lowest vacancy rate in the country at 0.2% for the fourth year in a row. The lack of supply and the persistently high demand are leading to strong competition for the few advertised rental flats: the re-letting period is record-breakingly short. There are plenty of affluent tenants moving in and out who are prepared to pay ever higher rents¹.

    Because asking rents are now 50% higher than the Swiss average, complaints that rental flats are no longer affordable have spread far into the middle classes². Even those with normal household incomes who want to move or relocate to the canton have little chance of accessing the housing on offer.

    In this context, the question arises as to what profit-orientated owners who have or would like to develop housing stock in the canton and city of Zug can contribute to the provision of housing for broad sections of the population.

    How should affordable housing be defined?
    The first question is how “affordable” housing should be defined. There is an object-orientated, a market-orientated and a target group-orientated approach³. Affordable housing can be defined as housing rents that are calculated using the maximum fixed investment costs for a residential property. For this calculation to work for yield-orientated owners, a consensus is needed on what constitutes a sensible limit for investment costs. The market-oriented approach categorises low-priced residential rents in certain quantiles of market rents. This requires a consensus on which quantiles are affordable. Finally, affordable housing rents are defined as those that are financially viable for tenants. This requires a consensus that households should not spend more than a third of their gross income – or more generously, their taxable income – on rent, for example.

    Room for manoeuvre via the subject-oriented approach
    The approach based on financial affordability is the most meaningful for a broad-based housing supply. Unlike the approach based on investment costs, this approach recognises that many people in the canton of Zug earn more than in other cantons and can therefore afford higher rents (Fig. 1). However, unlike the approach using the quantiles of market rents, it is not based on the willingness to pay of those moving in and out, but on the real income of the population. This approach helps to target the needs of specific income groups.

    An affordable flat for a person from the lower middle class living alone, who earns between 70 and 100% of the median income, should therefore cost between CHF 1,400 and 1,900 in the city of Zug. How much living space is offered for the price is decided by the provider based on his assessment of the marketability of a flat. Because affordability is based on the unit price of the flat and not the price per square metre, yield-oriented investors have more leeway to integrate affordable housing into their profitability calculations.

    Optimising the distribution of existing affordable housing
    Building flats takes a long time and is often associated with uncertain planning processes. Owners and investors are also not free to decide where and how much additional living space they want to realise. Owners have direct options for action with their portfolio: they can contribute to supplying the wider population if they optimise the distribution of their vacant rental flats. Every change of tenant offers the opportunity to consider the most suitable tenant in line with the “best owner principle”. Owners can instruct lettings teams to maximise the affordability of rental properties that are affordable to the middle class and choose the tenant who can least afford the property – assuming a full salary, for example. Letting teams simply need a matrix that shows them the maximum rental prices affordable for the middle class (or the targeted income group) for each number of rooms. If a vacant flat in the corresponding price range becomes available, the rule would apply.

    Conclusion
    In order to ease the situation in the housing market, the lengthy tasks of reducing barriers to housing construction and developing a cross-party understanding of how affordable housing is defined and how its provision should be regulated must be tackled. In the meantime, yield-orientated owners can make a contribution by approaching the provision of affordable housing with a subject-orientated approach that fits into their market logic. In doing so, they also remain fair to the legitimate interests of their direct stakeholders.

  • How nonsensical regulations are slowing down residential construction

    How nonsensical regulations are slowing down residential construction

    In Swiss cities, rental flats are scarce and expensive, and there are many reasons for this. One decisive factor is the increasingly long waiting time between planning application and building permit. The number of waiting days has increased by around 12 per cent on average across Switzerland in the last ten years. Whereas a decade ago, building applications still took an average of 118 days to be approved, today the figure is already 133 days.

    The cantons of Geneva, Fribourg and Basel-Stadt are particularly affected, where it takes up to 188 days to review a planning application. The waiting time in the canton of Zurich is also considerable at 152 days. These delays are a symptom of more far-reaching problems in the Swiss construction industry.

    Nonsensical regulations act as a brake
    Architects and experts see nonsensical building regulations as a key obstacle to the rapid construction of new rental flats in urban centres. Peter Sturzenegger, owner of the architectural firm Isler Architekten AG in Winterthur, cites the multiple length allowance (MLZ) as an example. This regulation stipulates that the boundary distance must be increased for buildings over 14 metres in length, which has made many construction projects impossible. In Winterthur, it is planned to abolish this regulation by the end of 2025, but in other cities such as Zurich, the future of this rule remains uncertain.

    Outdated laws and their consequences
    Another example of outdated building regulations is the orientation of living spaces in the canton of Zurich. The Planning and Building Act requires that the majority of living spaces must not face north-east or north-west in order to maximise daylight and prevent mould growth. However, Pascal Müller from Müller Sigrist Architekten AG argues that this regulation is no longer appropriate in the context of today’s urban conditions, such as noise pollution and climate change.

    In addition to the legal hurdles, Müller also criticises the role of the courts. The large number of court rulings and judgements creates uncertainty for building owners, as they constantly change the regulations and significantly restrict the scope for planners.

    Monument protection and energy-efficient refurbishment
    Aargau architect Daniel Huber emphasises the restrictive requirements for monument protection and the complex requirements for energy-efficient refurbishment as further obstacles. For him, the inconsistent implementation of building regulations, which depends heavily on the interpretation of the responsible authorities, is particularly problematic.

    The mass of regulations as a central problem
    The Swiss Federation of Master Builders sees the growing number and complexity of building regulations as the biggest challenge. Jacqueline Theiler, Head of Communications at the association, explains that the increasing density of regulations and the associated appeal procedures considerably lengthen the building permit process. The over-interpretation of existing noise regulations by the Federal Supreme Court is particularly problematic.

    The association is now pinning its hopes on swift changes to the law by parliament in order to get the faltering housing construction back on track and realise the urgently needed flats in Switzerland.

  • New start on the site of the “Müllerbräu-Areal”

    New start on the site of the “Müllerbräu-Areal”

    Today’s ground-breaking ceremony marks the start of the redevelopment of the “Müllerbräu-Areal” in the heart of Baden. By 2027, a modern district will be created there under the motto “brew – live – enjoy”. In addition to retail and office space, 136 flats will also be built. The traditional brewery H. Müller AG will continue to brew beer at this historic site, where Baden’s brewing activities began in 1897.

    When the building permit is granted in October 2023, the ground-breaking ceremony today will mark the visible start of the transformation of the 8,000 square metre site. The new district next to Baden railway station will enhance the entire neighbourhood and have a positive impact on urban development.

    The art of brewing remains an important part of Baden’s identity. The site design plan still envisages the popular Müllerbräu beer garden. From 2027, the classic Müllerbräu beers as well as specialities from the “Müller Bräu Handcrafted” line, which are already produced by master brewer Simon Neuhold, can be enjoyed there.

    The fourth generation of the family business is investing a considerable sum in the double-digit millions in the new building project. It is possible that part of the development will be handed over to a partner. The construction phase will take around three years, during which the neighbours will be kept regularly informed of progress. The rental flats are expected to be advertised for rent from summer/autumn 2026 and ready for occupancy from summer 2027.

  • Revitalisation of an icon – living in the former PTT tower block

    Revitalisation of an icon – living in the former PTT tower block

    The high-rise building, once an important research and development centre for the former PTT, will be renovated by Pensimo and HRS over the next two years. In future, the ground floor is expected to house a day care centre and the 17 upper floors will offer 87 modern flats with far-reaching views. The tower block, which is only surpassed by Bern Minster, was the tallest non-sacred building in Switzerland when it was completed in 1972. After years of use for telecommunications research and start-ups, it is now being converted into a residential building.

    The 75-metre-high high-rise at Ostermundigenstrasse 93, built by Frey, Egger + Peterhans Architekten between 1967 and 1972, was inspired by Le Corbusier and is designed as a filigree disc. Future residents will be able to reach the centre of Bern quickly thanks to the nearby public transport links. The rental flats offer loft-like spaces with 1.5-5.5 rooms, high ceilings and a solid fit-out standard. Residents benefit from a breathtaking view of the Bernese Alps from their flats and the communal roof terrace at a height of 75 metres.

    The conversion of the derelict commercial and office space helps to promote urban development and the supply of housing. Utilising the existing structures significantly reduces CO2 emissions compared to a new building. Completion and occupation are planned for spring 2026.

  • Skyscrapers like those in Manhattan are inconceivable for Switzerland

    Skyscrapers like those in Manhattan are inconceivable for Switzerland

    Switzerland is experiencing a remarkable dynamic in its housing market. According to a comprehensive analysis by Dani Steffen and his team at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, specific regions such as Zurich, Geneva and central tourist areas are experiencing a striking housing shortage. This contrasts with more relaxed markets such as the Jura or Ticino, where there is an oversupply of rental flats. These regional disparities are illustrated by a nationwide vacancy rate of 1.15 per cent, which shows a worrying decline since 2020.

    Steffen emphasises that the lack of housing is not just a local phenomenon, but a nationwide one, despite regional differences. With the constantly growing population and the trend towards single households, the demand for living space remains constantly high, while residential construction activity is stagnating. This discrepancy between supply and demand is exacerbated by a combination of regulatory hurdles, geographical restrictions and economic factors such as inflation and interest rate rises.

    The study also highlights the rental burden, which on average accounts for around 20 per cent of the household budget, with lower income groups being significantly more burdened. Steffen points out that despite high rents in cities such as Zurich and Geneva, rental costs remain relatively stable in relation to income. This indicates a certain regional balance, although accessibility for lower income groups remains a challenge.

    In the future, the need for age-appropriate housing will increase in order to cater for the ageing population. Steffen emphasises the need to motivate older people to downsize their homes in order to create more space for families and relieve pressure on the housing market. However, this process requires sensitive approaches, as housing is a very emotional issue.

    Overall, the study shows that Switzerland is facing significant challenges in the area of housing construction, which require careful consideration of both the regional characteristics and the different needs of the population groups.

  • Zurich is a stronghold of long-term tenants

    Zurich is a stronghold of long-term tenants

    Regulations on the rental property market protect tenants from rent increases. In contrast to the almost 25 per cent increase in asking rents, existing rents have remained relatively unchanged since 2008, explains Zürcher Kantonalbank(ZKB) in a press release. According to the ZHK’s surveys, the city of Zurich is a stronghold of long-term tenants. On average, tenants here have been living in their flat for ten years, with 15 per cent even staying for 20 years.

    “Strict rent regulations make the situation easier for existing tenants, but they also create financial disincentives,” Ursina Kubli, Head of Property Research at ZKB, is quoted as saying. “Tenants stay in their flats even though they are too small, too big or no longer suitable for other reasons.” Kubli proposes better framework conditions for residential construction as a solution: “A growing supply would dampen the increase in asking rents and thus also slow down the further drifting apart of asking and existing rents.” For this year, the experts at ZKB expect asking rents to grow by 3.5 per cent across Switzerland.

    The ZKB experts expect prices for owner-occupied homes to ease slightly. Across Switzerland, price growth should still be 1 per cent this year and 0.5 per cent next year. In the canton of Zurich, growth of 2 per cent is forecast for this year and 1 per cent for next year. “Excessive prices, as we saw during the pandemic, are no longer being paid,” explains Kubli. “The price-performance ratio has to make sense – this applies to both good and bad locations.”

  • Future-oriented residential development Hoffmatte in Thun

    Future-oriented residential development Hoffmatte in Thun

    The Hoffmatte site in Thun is an outstanding example of sustainable urban development that is geared towards the needs of people of all generations. The project comprises around 150 rental and owner-occupied flats, a nursing home with over 100 care places for the elderly, a daycare centre, a small shop and a neighbourhood café.

    The project has a long history. In February 2022, the Thun electorate voted 62 per cent in favour of the new “Hoffmatte” zone with planning obligation. After several years of legal proceedings, the Federal Supreme Court finally dismissed all appeals, meaning that the ZPP and the associated development regulations became legally binding in spring 2023.

    In May 2023, the Solina Foundation, as the operator of the care home, and Frutiger AG signed a cooperation agreement, thereby taking an important step towards the realisation of their joint project. With the decision of the Federal Supreme Court and the approval of the canton, the project has reached milestones that form a solid basis for the next development steps.

    With the development of the new residential project in Hoffmatte, the initiators are striving for a high quality of life. Thanks to the commitment of the various stakeholders, the project has now been given the necessary legal and planning framework to create new living space for the people of Thun.

  • In the middle lies KIM

    In the middle lies KIM

    Neuhegi, the former Sulzer site in Oberwinterthur, has changed in recent years from an industrial district to a dynamic development area. It is a varied mix of flats, businesses, shopping facilities, schools, a wide range of leisure activities, meeting zones and a local recreation area that includes the Eulachpark.

    With KIM Winterthur, a lively and multi-layered quarter with commercial and residential buildings of different sizes is being created directly at Winterthur-Neuhegi railway station. Each of them is modern, but has its own character. The overall composition consists of a total of seven buildings, variedly planted inner courtyards and a landscaped park.

    On the one hand, KIM is intended to become a hub for fresh entrepreneurial spirit and innovation. It wants to bring people, companies and educational institutions together in an inspiring way. The commercial spaces can be used in a variety of ways and are intended to appeal to companies of different sizes and from a wide range of industries.

    On the other hand, KIM in Neuhegi will create several hundred modern rental flats, many of which have already been occupied. The 1.5 to 5.5 room flats have floor plans between 41 and 135 square metres. Living comfort is also reflected in the above-average heights of up to 4.7 m on the ground floor and 2.6 m on the upper floors. All buildings comply with the Minergie-P standard and are built in solid construction on the one hand and in ecological wood-concrete hybrid construction on the other.

    The Vivale Neuhegi senior citizens’ centre, which opened in 2020, is also part of the quarter. It fits in with the philosophy of KIM, which aims to promote heterogeneous coexistence.

    The KIM buildings are surrounded by green retreats. The area is broken up by trees, bushes, green spaces and paths. Car-free promenades and a network of paths for walkers and cyclists invite people to linger in the fresh air on the site and in the nearby Eulachpark. Together, they form an essential part of the public green belt. in 2018, construction began on Ida Park and Sulzer Park. These connect the Neuhegi school building via Sulzerallee with the Hegi railway station as a public park strip. Half of the design of this park strip was determined by the residents.

    In summer 2019, construction began on the northern half of the plot for the u-
    shaped residential building “Haus Furrer” with a public-oriented use on the ground floor. At the end of 2019, construction work began directly next to it on the second residential building, “Haus Bill”. The two buildings were completed at the end of 2021 and in mid-2022. With the residents, KIM’s public-oriented commercial sector received many potential new customers. The two southern commercial buildings are to be home to established companies and start-ups from the high-tech sector, among others, on 18,600 square metres. The start of construction has not yet been determined.

    KIM Winterthur is a joint project. The investors and real estate developers involved are Ina Invest, Steiner, Swiss Life and Mobiliar, as well as Reliva, which manages the Vivale Neuhegi senior citizens’ centre.

  • EPFL doctoral student calls for smaller apartments

    EPFL doctoral student calls for smaller apartments

    The ecological footprint of living in Switzerland by 2050 can only be reduced through a joint effort by homeowners and tenants. According to a press release from the university in Lausanne, this demand for smaller living space per capita is raised in Margarita Agriantoni's doctoral thesis. She is a civil engineering student at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne ( EPFL ).

    The work is based on computer simulations of various living scenarios for the next 30 years from 2020 to 2050. The result is therefore: If the energy consumption of apartments in Switzerland is to be significantly reduced, the entire industry must rethink its practices. This affects the way homes are planned and built, as well as the way they are used. Less living space is required per resident.

    Around 58 percent of Swiss households rent their homes. The average living space of these apartments has risen steadily in recent years, as has the living space per capita – a key figure that directly correlates with a building's ecological footprint, according to the statement. Today, a 100 square meter apartment is built or heated in the same way, whether it is intended for two or four people. "The per capita area is the key figure that we have to reduce in the long term," the author Agriantoni is quoted as saying. "Reducing space by just a few square feet can have a real impact."

    Agriantoni and her colleagues examined 11,000 apartments in buildings across Switzerland and interviewed 1,000 households.

  • Regensdorf receives a city quarter on top of an art museum

    Regensdorf receives a city quarter on top of an art museum

    A city quarter on top of an art museum? This is not a typo, but a reality: In Regensdorf, the investment foundations Turidomus, Adimora and Pensimo have planned a new type of living and working concept. Zwhatt is the name – and it stands for social, cultural, ecological and architectural diversity. The cemented art museum of the Fondation Riklin is located in the foundation of the city quarter, which is being built on 3.6 hectares directly at the Regensdorf-Watt train station.

    On behalf of the aforementioned investment foundations, Pensimo Management AG is realizing around 600 rental apartments and commercial space around central Zwhattplatz in two construction phases. The first construction phase envisages around 400 apartments, 12,000 square meters of commercial space and 330 underground parking spaces. The rental of the first apartments is scheduled to begin in autumn 2021.

    A total of seven buildings are planned, two of which are high-rise buildings. The Riklin Foundation was set up in January by the St. Gallen conceptual artists Frank and Patrik Riklin. In Zwhatt, art is becoming the DNA of a new city quarter – it is supposed to lay a new foundation for social cohesion.

    Pilot project for climate-adapted area development
    Residents from Regensdorf, Adlikon and Watt gave the two artists everyday items such as suitcases, lamps and rocking horses. These were then reassembled with other suitcases, lamps and rocking horses, or rather “latticed”. The works of art created in this way were sunk into the foundation of the museum. Later they will be brought back to life using augmented reality.

    The new city quarter should meet the need for mobility, flexibility and freedom as well as the desire for community and home. Different lifestyles, family models and types of consumption are expressly encouraged. Zwhatt stands for the encounter with diversity. And this motto does not stop at the architecture either: the interpretation limits of the design plan were explored using a so-called Charrette process. 100 architects, urban planners and experts took part in the preselection in 2018. In the end, five teams were selected to help shape the project. The architects of the first construction phase were also evaluated using unusual methods such as the sufficiency pitch.

    Zwhatt is a pilot project for the federal government’s climate-adapted area development. The district draws its energy from the groundwater and the electricity from its own photovoltaic systems. In the case of high-rise buildings, panels are also integrated into the facades. The mobility concept provides for a small number of parking spaces and thus low-car living. The desired mobility is made possible by sharing offers for electric cars and e-bikes. Co-working spaces, shops and restaurants directly on the site support this concept. The first occupancy is planned for 2023.

  • Baden's tallest building is called Akara Tower

    Baden's tallest building is called Akara Tower

    In addition to other projects, the tallest residential and office building in the city is being built on the former ABB site near Baden's train station. In the meantime, the name for the 66 meter high tower is also known: Akara Tower. The client is Akara Funds based in Zug, planning and construction are carried out by HRS Real Estate from Frauenfeld TG. The real estate company Markstein AG , based in Baden, has been commissioned to market the commercial and office space in the Akara Tower and the rental apartments.

    In terms of traffic, 150 rental apartments are being built in the Akara Tower in the best traffic location, just a four-minute walk from the train station. They have 1.5 to 4.5 rooms. Office and service space can be rented on floors two to four. There are two commercial spaces on the ground floor. Marketing of the office space will start this autumn. The apartments will be advertised for rent from summer 2022. The move into the Akara Tower is planned for the fourth quarter of 2023.

    The planning also includes the establishment of parking spaces. Next to the high-rise building and under the future town square, an underground parking garage with almost 500 parking spaces is being built. The parking spaces provided for the high-rise are also located there. There are also around 350 bicycle parking spaces available.

  • Swiss Prime Quartier Riverside is ready for occupancy

    Swiss Prime Quartier Riverside is ready for occupancy

    In Zuchwil, the new residential and work area Riverside is now ready for occupancy. According to a press release , the first tenants will move into the Widi Huus and Sulzer Huus in October. The project of the Swiss Prime Investment Foundation is characterized by modern energy supply and traffic management as well as recreational opportunities. It was also developed by the Swiss Prime Investment Foundation in Olten as a “living space”. As a location in the country with all the amenities of an urban place. The new Riverside district combines living and working. The Aare in turn connects nature with the city. The quarter has direct access to the river.

    According to Jérôme Baumann, President of the Board of Trustees of the Swiss Prime Investment Foundation, “120 apartments have already been rented. Only a few are available. ”The apartments offer a lot of quality of life. The Solothurn architect Benedikt Graf from gsj architects and agps architecture was quoted as saying that the choice of materials was "extremely careful". The heat generation for heating and water takes place sustainably via a groundwater heat pump. Natural cooling is in operation in summer.

    All apartments are designed according to the guidelines of Procap Switzerland and are wheelchair accessible. There are individual charging stations for e-vehicles at the visitor parking spaces. The parking spaces in the underground car park can also be equipped with a charging station. All five houses of the first stage should be occupied by autumn 2022.

  • Riverside benefits from pop-up pickling

    Riverside benefits from pop-up pickling

    The Riverside in Zuchwil combines the best of both worlds: urban amenities and rural tranquility. The owner is the Swiss Prime Investment Foundation, which not only attaches great importance to careful treatment of the environment, not only in this sensitive development. "For us, a holistic, sustainable development of this former Sulzer industrial area also includes regular exchange with the surrounding area and the community in order to be able to respond to the current needs of society in the further development of the existing master plan," says Tobias Hossfeld, Head Development at of Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG, the asset management team of the investment foundation. Markus Hauri, a genuine Solothurn native and his team from mha GmbH, is responsible for the structural developments. At the same time, Andreas Brunner and his team from Wincasa MUSM are working on the best possible management and marketing of the new quarter, which offers space for a wide variety of uses such as living, leisure and business. Seen in this way, around 20 people are permanently busy with the riverside area.

    Lots of momentum
    Last year the RiverYard garden pub was created in an industrial look, which not only received a lot of popularity from the region, but also works wonderfully as a marketing tool. Many guests were already interested in renting an apartment, even though the shell was not even finished. "We did not expect such a rapid momentum of its own", says Leo Smeets, Head Letting at Swiss Prime Site Solutions AG. He believes this development will continue in the future. The restaurateur would also like to stay on the site for the long term and is already working on new ideas with the development team. In the area of living, too, development is being advanced with care and continuity. Various projects are being worked out in line with ongoing demand and will be implemented in the coming years.

    Proximity to the quarter
    Riverside management is currently looking forward to inquiries from other interested parties, for example from the retail and service sectors or the catering industry. Seen in this way, the development from a former industrial area to a lively, diverse quarter is working very well. According to Hauri, more and more people are recognizing the qualities of the area and are able to establish a closeness. The effects of the pandemic have also resulted in only a few changes in rental inquiries.

  • Winning project from study contract for further development of Aeschbachquartier Aarau

    Winning project from study contract for further development of Aeschbachquartier Aarau

    Winning project known from the Rockwell site study contract

    The Rockwell area belongs to the western part of the Torfeld Süd and was acquired by Mobimo in 2001. Rockwell Automation GmbH intends to discontinue production at the Aarau location at the beginning of 2022. Only the research and development areas will remain at the long-standing headquarters. This will free a large part of the area – and the further development of the Aeschbach district can be tackled.

    As of today, the Aeschbachquartier comprises 167 rental apartments, 92 condominiums, the Aeschbachhalle, the Oehlerpark and commercial space. The urban planning guidelines designed by the renowned Dutch architect and retired ETH professor Kees Christiaanse and the associated vision of the “Urban Village” – an urban village – with diverse uses should also shape the further development steps.

    Mobimo has invited five renowned architecture firms to take part in a study. In addition to the high demands on the sustainability of the project – it should be made of wood and meet the SNBS Gold standard – the results of the participation process from 2020 were also part of the task package.

    The proposal by Baumberger & Stegmeier Architects from Zurich in collaboration with Hoffmann Müller landscape architects and Pirmin Jung timber construction engineers particularly impressed the jury and was chosen as the winning project. Your project envisages an increase in the historical Hall 5 and a new wooden building (see visualization). In addition to the ecological construction method, the winning project is characterized by many green areas with large trees. The project envisages 110 rental apartments of various sizes and suitable for families and senior citizens. Alternative forms of living such as cluster apartments are also to be created.

    Mobimo will invest around CHF 50 million (amount excluding land value). Realization can probably begin in mid-2023, which means that completion would be possible in mid-2025.

    Quote from project manager Thomas Schaz: “We are delighted to be able to open a new chapter in the Aeschbach district. Rockwell Automation remains an important and valued user of the quarter in a reduced space. "

  • HSLU erklärt neues Modell für Wohneigentum

    HSLU erklärt neues Modell für Wohneigentum

    In der Schweiz lebt der Grossteil der Bevölkerung in Mietwohnungen. Nur 40 Prozent besitzen Immobilien. Laut einer Medienmitteilung der HSLU ist dieser Anteil niedriger als in jedem anderen Land in Westeuropa. Der Grund seien die fehlenden Eigenmittel und die hohen Baukosten.

    Die HSLU stellt nun ein neues Eigentumsmodell vor. Dabei wird eine Immobilie nur für eine festgelegte Zeit gekauft. Wenn von einer Lebensdauer der Immobilie von 100 Jahren ausgegangen wird und das Wohneigentum auf eine Zeit von 30 Jahren beschränkt ist, zahlt die Käuferin oder der Käufer nur 30 Prozent des totalen Wertes der Immobilie. Wegen der verkürzten Nutzungsdauer werden entsprechende Wohnobjekte auch mit einer tieferen Hypothek belegt. Laut der HSLU fallen die Kosten für Wohneigentum auf Zeit insgesamt um rund 15 Prozent tiefer aus als die Kosten der Miete über den selben Zeitraum. Nach Ansicht der Hochschule hat das Modell auch für Investoren Vorteile. Wenn das Wohnobjekt nach Ablauf der festgelegten Zeitdauer zurück zum Investor geht, kann er die Immobilie marktfähig sanieren.

    Insgesamt stösst das Modell laut HSLU sowohl bei Investoren als auch bei bei potenziellen Bewohnerinnen und Bewohnern auf hohe Akzeptanz. Dennoch gibt es bisher in Europa nur ein Objekt, bei dem Wohnungen mit dem Wohneigentum-auf-Zeit-Modell erworben werden können – dieses befindet sich in Bern. Die HSLU hat nun ein Handbuch erarbeitet, das aufzeigt, wie Investoren und Wohneigentümer von diesem Modell profitieren können.

  • Extended tram depot including 193 rental apartments

    Extended tram depot including 193 rental apartments

    The new building project emerged as the winner of an architecture competition in 2016. The project was penned by Morger Partner Architects from Basel. The project was particularly convincing with its high space and volume efficiency, which, in addition to cost advantages, also promises energetic and operational benefits, emphasize the project managers. The building project “Tram depot and housing estate Depot Hard” includes the partial renovation of the existing, listed tram depot from 1912, the construction of a modern depot hall with a total of 25 tram parking spaces. In addition, there are provision, maintenance and repair areas as well as operating and service rooms for the Zurich transport company.

    Living space for around 550 people
    In addition, a new urban housing estate is being built with a total of 193 apartments of various sizes. It offers living space for around 550 people. In addition to apartments in the base construction on the Limmat, maisonette apartments (townhouses) are being built. They offer direct access to the courtyard. The offer is to be supplemented with apartment blocks in the two high-rise buildings. They extend to the 22nd and 23rd floors respectively. In addition, various studio, commercial and service areas as well as a public footpath and bicycle path with lounge areas are planned along the Limmat.

    Tram depot as the base of the development
    The new tram depot forms the base of the superstructure and is built over with two-storey row buildings as a geometric connection to the residential buildings of the existing complex, explain the project managers. This creates a relationship to the existing building both in terms of the height of the building and in terms of its geometry. The area between the row buildings is to be used as a spacious and versatile courtyard for the residents of the housing estate. The two high-rise residential buildings, which will be located together with the two existing high-rise buildings on the opposite side of Hardturmstrasse, mark the entrance to the Zurich-West quarter. ■